Career highlights:

He has won the Burghley Horse Trials on six occasions between 1994 and 2011. He also won a team silver medal at the Athens Olympics.

RANDOM FACT

Has written two books; Schooling For Success and the autobiography What Will Be.

How it all began:

His mother and father were involved in eventing, completing Badminton and Burghley, and he took up the sport aged 15, representing Britain throughout his teens.

RANDOM FACT

Owns a menagerie of rare-breed chickens.

Biggest Disappointment:

Was one of the favourites for individual gold at the Athens Olympics but his horse, Tamarillo, had to be withdrawn through injury.

RANDOM FACT

Rides for up to 10 hours a day, most days a week.

Rivals:

Fox-Pitt currently leads the world rankings. His nearest rival, New Zealander Andrew Nicholson, will be hoping to add a gold medal to his team silver from 1992 and team bronze from 1996 as he competes in his sixth Olympics.